CANCER Flashcards
Things cancer cells do
- turn proto-onco to oncogenes
- evade growth suppressors
- inactiate cadherins so they can activate adhesion and metastasize
- Reactivate embryonic telomerase for immortality
- Produce vascular growth factors
- Resist cell death / apoptosis
Mechanisms that reduce apoptosis:
IGF’s, loss of contact inhibition, decreased p53
HER2/neu is associated w
breast cancer
Rb and P53
tumor suppressor genes, associated w many different cancers
Rb
Retinoblastoma
Treatment for HER2 mutation
Herceptin - blocks over expressed growth factors
HER2 and breast cancer
A gene that codes for a growth factor receptor
25-30% of breast cancers over-express HER2/neu, and thus are hyper-responsive to the effects of growth factors
“Guardians of the genome”
TUMOR SUPRESSORS
What is often the first mutation in a developing cancer
Tumor Suppressors
What will initiate cell apoptosis if the DNA is irreparable
p53 !!!! unless it’s mutated - then you’ll get cancer
Mutations in regulatory region of p53 results in
decreased AMOUNT of p53
Mutations in protein coding region of p53 results in
fucked up ACTIVITY of p53
Which virus can fuck up p53 and how
HPV - inactivates p53
Two therapy methodologies for targeting cancer DNA
Ionizing radiation
Chemo
How does HER2 mutation generally cause cancer
Over expressed growth factor
the study of functions and interactions of all the genes in the genome, including their interactions with environmental factors.
GENOMICS
the study of the
gene-environment-host interaction that leads to disease or disease progression
MEDICAL perspective of genomics
Translocation in germ cells vs translocation in somatic cells
In germ cells, you will LOSE genetic information with translocation - and you inherit the disorder
In somatic cells, translocation can result in gene fusion and the creation of a new protein - “BALANCE translocation” - and it’s acquired, not inherited
Example of a somatic “balanced” translocation that leads to cancer
Philadelphia chromosome - leads to CML
Result of philadelphia chromosome
The resulting protein is a tyrosine kinase which activates multiple oncogenic pathways
keep the cell cycle turned on and inhibit DNA repair
Percentage of cancers that are hereditary
5-10%
Perentage of cancers that are familial - lifestyle etc
15-20%
BRCA 1 / 2 associated with
BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER
APC,MYH
COLON CANCER / COLON POLYPS